Gimpo Mayor Lee Ki-hyung will take his administration directly into the community, visiting residents at everyday locations to hear their concerns firsthand.
The city announced Friday that it will run four "The Mayor is ON!" mobile office sessions from Aug. 28 through Sept. 22.
Operating under the slogan "Citizens' Voices ON, On-Site Communication ON," the program breaks from the traditional model in which residents must visit city hall or the mayor's office. Instead, the mayor goes to them — attending community venues to collect opinions and suggestions from the public.
A key feature of the program is that no prior application or reservation is required; any resident who shows up during operating hours can take part.
The first session will be held Aug. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Gurae Station Plaza. Subsequent sessions will follow at Gimpo Art Village on Sept. 5, in the area around Tongjin Middle and High School on Sept. 11, and at Gimpo Oiljang market on Sept. 22.
Each session will offer several formats for engagement: seated one-on-one conversations between residents and the mayor, a walking-talk format in which the mayor moves through the venue collecting opinions, and a citizen suggestion board for those who prefer to leave written feedback rather than speak directly.
The city said it aims to meet a broad cross-section of residents — including commuters heading home after work, weekend visitors, teenagers, and traditional market shoppers and vendors — to hear about everyday inconveniences and gather input on city administration.
gilbert@heraldcorp.com
